Insider discusses the latest on Jake Muzzin
Jake Muzzin is currently on LTIR after suffering his second concussion of the season in February. The 33-year-old has missed the Leafs' last 6 games and that number won't be getting any smaller anytime soon. The biggest question aside from Muzzin's health is if he'll be ready to return before the playoffs.
Muzzin's timetable dictates what the Leafs have to do at the trade deadline in order to improve this team. Muzzin being on LTIR gives the Leafs an extra $5.6 million in cap space to work with. It's no secret that the Leafs are going to be pursuing a defenseman at the trade deadline because of the teams struggles in their own end all season and Muzzin being injured.
One insider is suggesting that people close to Muzzin would prefer if he didn't come back before the playoffs. This is likely so that Muzzin can get fully healthy and not reinjure himself before the most important time of the NHL season. Especially considering that Muzzin has gotten hurt in back-to-back playoff series' for the Leafs.
This comment could also indicate that his family has cautioned him not to return too early either. As a player with a young family, it's paramount that Muzzin considers his long-term health above all else. If his family is urging him to delay his return, that could certainly influence how he elects to proceed. Traumatic brain injuries are no joke.
If Muzzin isn't going to be ready until the playoffs it means that the Leafs won't need to substract from their current roster if they want to make a big splash at the deadline. Muzzin being out until the playoffs makes a lot of sense from both a long-term health and a team flexibility standpoint. We saw how it benefitted Tampa last season with Kucherov being out until the playoffs. Perhaps it's the Leafs' turn to use LTIR relief to their advantage.
| POLL | ||
MARS 7 | 333 ANSWERS Insider discusses the latest on Jake Muzzin Will Muzzin be out until the playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 240 | 72.1 % |
| No | 35 | 10.5 % |
| As long as he's healthy, I don't care | 58 | 17.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
